Grass-catcher for mowing-machines.



No. 801,396. PATBNTED 001*. 10, 1905.

R, J. PARRISH. GRASS GATOHER FOR MOWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' No. 801,396. PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905.

R. J. PARRISH.

GRASS CATOHER FOR MOWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.41905.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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()"NTTED STATES PATENT FFTCE.

RALPH J. PARRISH, OF WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA.

GRASS-CATCHER FOR ROWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed January 4:, 1905. Serial No. 239,558.

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, RALPH J. PARRISH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winston Salem, in the county of Forsyth and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grass-Catchers for Mowing-\laohines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in lawn-mowers, and more particularly to'grasscatching attachments therefor.

The object of my invention is to improve and simplify the construction and operation of devices of this character, and thereby render the same more efficient and durable in use and less expensive to manufacture.

\Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, with parts in section, of a hand-operated lawn-mower having my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, the handle of the machine being removed. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the stationary knife of the mower, showing the endless-carrier roller mounted thereon. Fig. 5 is a detail transverse sectional View taken on the line 5 5 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the gearing for driving the endless carrier or conveyer, and Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the pawl-and-ratchetlocking connection of one of the band wheels or pulleys of the driving-belt of the endless carrier.

1n the embodiment of my invention illus trated in the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a hand-operated mowingmachine of the usual type. The same comprises amain frame 2, mounted upon supporting and drive wheels 3 and having the usual upwardly and rearwardly projecting handle 4. The bail 141 of the handle is pivoted to the side plates or members 5 of the frame 2. Journaled in suitable bearings in each of the side plates 5 of the frame 2 is a transversely extending shaft 6, upon which is secured the usual rotary cutter 7 and which has at one or both of its ends pinions 8, which mesh with internal gears 9, formed in the supportingwheels 3, so that when the machine is moved forwardly the rotary cutter 7 will be operated.

Each of the side plates or members 5 of the frame 2 has on its rear side an arm 10 and an arm 11. The latter are formed in their outer faces with curved or arch-shaped grooves 12, which extend downwardly and rearwardly, as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In these grooves 12 are slidably and adjustably mounted curved or arch-shaped arms 18, in the outer ends of which is journaled a supporting-roller 14. The adjustment of said arms 13 is preferably effected by forming the same with longitudinally-extending slots 15 and passing bolts 16 therethrough and through openings formed in the arms 11. It will be seen that by means of this construction the supportingroller 14 is thrown to the rear to more perfectly balance the machine, and the angular disposition or elevation of the handle 4 and the grass-catching mechanism hereinafter described may be readily regulated.

On the outer faces of the arms 10 are formed upwardly and rearwardly extending grooves 17, in which are adjustably mounted the forward ends of supporting-arms 18. The latter are in the form of straight metal bars, and their adjustable connection with the arms 10 is preferably effected by forming their forward ends with longitudinal slots 19 and passing bolts 20 through said slots and through openings formed in the arms 10. The arms 18 are provided for the purpose of supporting a grass-receptacle or basket 21 and enclless carrier or conveyer 22, which conducts the grass cut by the machine into this receptacle or basket.

The grass-receptacle 21, which may be of any desired form and construction, is preferably detachably mounted upon the outer or rear ends of the arms 18 by providing upon the latter on their under sides rearwardlyprojecting hooks or fingers 23 and engaging them with studs or pins 24, provided at suitable points upon the sides of the receptacle or basket 21. These studs 24 are retained in the hooks 23, preferably by providing one or more catches 26, which are pivoted, as at 27, upon the arms 18 and which are adapted to have their free ends 28 swung into engagement with the studs 24 after the latter have been engaged with the hooks 23. It will be seen that when these catches 26 are swung upwardly from their position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the grass-receptacle 21 may be readily detached from the arms 18 to permit its contents to be emptied or for other purposes.

The endless conveyer or carrier 22 is preferably in the form of a canvas belt which is formed at suitable intervals with transverselyextending plaits 29, which are adapted to prevent grass from slipping downwardly off of the same when the machine is used upon rough or uneven ground. This belt'or carrier 22 is passed over a roller 30, secured upon a transversely-extending shaft 31, which has its ends journaled in bearings 32, provided at the outer or rear ends of the arms 18. The lower end of the carrier 22 is passed over a transverselyextending roller 33, which is mounted beneath and in rear of the usual stationary knife 34, which coacts with the rotary cutter 7 of the mowing-machine. This knife 34, as shown, extends transversely beneath the rotary cutter 7 and is formed with alongitudinally-extending hollow or recessed portion 35 and a longitudinally-extending slot 36. The roller 33 is disposed in the recessed or hollow portion 35 of the knife, and it is journaled in bearings 37, which are screwed or bolted, as at 38, upon the ends 39 of said knife 34. Said ends 39 of the knife are bolted or otherwise secured, as at 40, upon flanges 41, formed upon the side plates 5 of the frame 1. It will be seen that by providing the knife 34 with the recess or hollow 35 and mounting the roller 33 therein the carrier 22 will pass close to the point where the grass is severed, so that it will catch all that is cut. lt will also be noted that by providing the longitudinally-extending slot 36 beneath the roller 33 the latter, and hence the carrier, may be quickly relieved of any objects passing beneath the same in the recess 35. In order to drive the endless conveyer or carrier 22 in the proper direction when the machine is moved forwardly and to also permit the same to remain stationary when the machine is moved rearwardly, I provide upon the shaft 6 of the rotary cutter 7 and shaft 31 of the carrier-roller 3O grooved pulleys or wheels 42, which have a pawl-and-ratchet-locking connection with said shafts. This connection is clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawlngs and consists 1n providing a slidlng pawl 43 in one of said shafts and forming a series of cam shaped recesses 44 in said pulleys around said shaft. These recesses 44 form a ratchet with which the sliding pawl 43 coacts, as will be readily understood. This construction, it will be seen, permits said pulleys 42 to turn independent of the shafts in one direction and locks them to said shafts when they are turned in the reverse direction. The said grooved pulleys 42 are connected together by a crossed belt or band 45, by means of which the motion of the cutter-shaft 6 is imparted to the shaft 31 of the carrier-roller 30 for the purpose of driving said carrier.

The construction, operation, and advantages of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It will be seen that when the machine is moved forwardly the motion of the rotary cutter will be imparted to the endless carrier and the latter will convey the grass which is cut to the receptacle or basket 21. By adjusting the supporting-arms 18 the tension of the endless carrier and the crossed belt 45 may be readily regulated, and by adjusting supporting-roller 14 by means of its arms 13 the grass-receptacle and handle 4 maybe supported at any elevation.

WVhile I have shown and described my improvements as applied to a hand operated lawn-mower, it Will be understood with slight changes they may be used upon power-mowers of any description.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with rotary and stationary knives of a mowing-machine, of a rotary guide element mounted upon said stationary knife, and an endless carrier passed about said element, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the rotary and stationary knives of a mowing-machine said stationary knife having a recessed portion, of a roller mounted in the recessed portion of said stationary knife, and an endless conveyer-belt passed over said roller, substantially as described.

3. In a mowing-machine, the combination with a stationary knife formed with a longitudinally-extending hollow or recessed portion and a longitudinally -extending slot, a roller journaled in the ends of said knife and disposed in its hollow or recessed portion, and an endless conveyer passed over said roller, substantially as described.

4. In a grass-catcher for mowing-machines,

the combination of supporting-arms provided with hooks, a grass-receptacle, studs upon said receptacle to engage said hooks and means upon said arms for retaining said studs in said hooks, substantially as described.

5. In a grass-catcher for mowing-machines, the combination of supporting-arms formed With hooks, a grass-receptacle, studs upon said receptacle to engage said hooks and a pivoted catch upon one of said arms for retaining said I studs in said hooks, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

RALPH J. PARRISH. Witnesses:

P. M. LEDFORD, R. M. OGBURN. 

